Liquid separator



E. C. SMITH LIQUID SEPARATOR Filed Aug. 5. 1924 -Feb.`2l, 1928.

gin/vento@ Patented Feb. 2l, 1928.

lUNITED STATES Enwriv coMER SMITH, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

LIQUID SEPARATOB.

Application lied August 5, 1924. Serial No. (730,217.

My invention relates to machines of that class which are adapted to effect separation of fiuids, and particularly pertains to machines of the type in whichseparation of liquids is accomplished by fiotation. i

An object of my invention is to provide-a means whereby floating substances mayv be separated and removed from the. liquid on which they float and which is especially adapted for use in accelerating the discharge of viscous Vfluids from an over ow outlet such for example as in effecting the evacuation of froth from flotation machines.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character which is adapted tobe adjusted to meet varying conditions and which is simple in construction and efficient in operation. j

With the foregoing objects rin view together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, vconstruct-ion and arrangement lof parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated by way of example in the accom- `:wiper 24 one edgeof which is arranged to panying drawings, in which: Y

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fiotation-machine showing the invention as applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section as seen on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail and vertical section of the evacuator illustrating its principle of operation; l

Figure 4 is a detail vin section as seen on the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detail lin plan as seen on the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, 5 indicates a suitable type of flotation machine to which the invention is applied and which machine embodies an aerating chamber 6 containing an aeration drum 7 and also includes a frothing chamber 8; there being an inlet opening 9 to the aerating chamber communicating with a feed conduit 10 fitted with a slide valve 11 for regulating the feed of the materials to be treated to the aerating chamber and there being a restricted tailing discharge pipe 12 leading from the frothing chamber 8. The aerating chamber operates to form a froth which is delivered to the frothing chamber 8 through an outlet 14 leading from the upper portion of the former chamber and opening to a downwardly extending passage 15 communicating with the frothing chamberY 8. The froth accumulating in the frothing chamber is designedto be discharged over a ledge l6located at the upper margin of the front wall 17 of the frothing chamber and thence pass to a trough '18 extendingralong the ledge 16 and leading to any .suitable point of discharge.

In carrying out my invention `a4 rotary cylf vinder orl roller 19 is arranged to extend longitudinally of the open upper end ofV the frothmg chamber adjacent to and parallel to the inner margin of the ledge 16 and vspaced therefrom; they ledge being inclined downwardly from near-the periphery of the roller 19. f

The roller 19 S PI'Ovided with trunnions j 20 at its ends which are journaled in suitable bearings 21 carried ongthe end walls 22 of the frothing chamber..` j

Y f One of the trunnions is fitted with a pulley 23 or other suitable vdriving means adapted to be operated from any suitable source of power to effect rotation of the roller.

Mounted on the ledge 16 is a scraper or .imeter ofthe roller 19r` and mayA in some instances be Y disposed in sliding contact therewith. i

This scraper or wiper may constitute a metallic plate or a stripof fibrous material such as wood7 leather or heavy fabric and may be formed in one or more pieces being here shown extending continuously throughout the length ofthe roller 19.

The scraper is preferably adjustable so that it may beshifted to various positions transversely of the ledge 16'whereby its inner e'dge maybe disposed in various relationscto lthe roller 19, as occasion may require. For this purpose the scraper is here shown as formed with transverse slots 25 through which extend set screws 26 engaging the ledge 16 and having head portions adapted to engage the upper face of the scraper; The screws 26 on being loosened permit the scraper to be moved transversely within the limits of the slots 25.

The roller 19 is preferably mounted for vertical adjustment and for this purpose is here shown as having its bearings 21 slidably supported in vertical guide ways 27 formed in the end walls 2 2 of the frothing chamber; the bearings' being supported by a swivelconnection 28 on a screw 29 threaded on and carried `by a'plateBOl Bylthis'construction the roller 19 may be raised'or lowered by adjusting the screws 29 so'that'it` may be immersed .morebrfless in1thes'liquid to be discharged and whereby the area of surface contact of the roller with therliquidV causing a considerable'volumethereofto be moved under the impetus of the roller -andto be carried up and overzthe'roller ontothe scraper. and. ledgefrom whence it `HowsI into the discharge trough 18. The scraper '24 serves to remove-the` froth Lfrom s the' roller and to direct it. down the .inclined ledgefto theA trough.

' From-the foregoing it Awild be seeir that by.

employing the rotating roller; theidischarge ofthe froth fromthe'frothing chamber will bev augmented andfaccelerated in'comparison with what would ordinarily `be thenorm'al flow ofthefrothfrom the 'frothingv chamber it being welly known thatin theoperation of machines lof this character the froth 'tends to accumulate and to pile. up -'at"the upper end ofthe frotliingchamber andy there break ,down 'andi thicken, so. thatits flow from the 'frothing chamber will' be greatlyy retarded.

4"Mfl'iile I have shown and 'described the iuvention as applied to the evacuation of froth itis'not limited to this particular use as itis ialsowadaptedrto -be employed in separating any floating substances from a surface 'of I.liquid in which the roller may be partly submerged and especially in effecting the sepa- `ration of arviscous liquid that would cling to the roller, and while I have shown andV dc scribed a specific embodiment of lmy inveni tion, I donotlimit myself to the exactdetails of construction or arrangement shownY but Vmay 'employ suchV modilicatiogns and changes as come within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim: y Y 1. Ina machine for separating liquids,v a liquid containing chamber having `an overledge, a partially submerged horizontal roller arranged in said opening in operative rela-v tion to said ledge, and means carried by -said ledge forwiping liquid from said roller and directing the liquid 'thus' removed `to dis chargeiover said ledge. Y

2. In a machine for separating liquid,` a liquid-containing chamber having anover-V flow discharge opening provided with a ledge, a partially submerged horizontal roller .arranged insaid opening yin'operative relai tion;tojsa`id ledge, means-for wiping liquid from `said roller andv directing *the* liquid `flow discharge opening'provided with a thus'removed to discharge over saidfledge, V

and means Vfor adjusting-said roller=1verti cally to vary `the extent of-its submersion in the'liquid in said chamber. i

EDWIN comin siurrni. 

